Bendigo police officer attacked

A Bendigo senior constable was taken to hospital following the alleged assault.

The highway patrol officer used capsicum spray to restrain two men who attacked him after he pulled over their vehicle in Wade Street, Golden Square.

Back-up police units were called to help the officer in the incident just after 8pm.

The officer pulled over a Holden Commodore that was allegedly doing burnouts in Golden Square.

When the officer stopped the vehicle and asked the driver to submit to a breath test, he was allegedly punched through the window. Sergeant Greg Gentry said the two men both continued to resist arrest outside the vehicle.

“They both became very aggressive very quickly,” he said.

“It was fortunate it didn’t become a more dangerous incident.

“It was a two-on-one situation – who knows what could have happened?”

Sergeant Gentry said the incident highlighted the importance of capsicum spray.

“The job is from time to time very dangerous. The use of capsicum spray was able to help restrain the offenders and proved very effective in this case.”

Police arrested the men, aged 28 and 29, and they were interviewed and bailed early on Wednesday.

Both have been charged with assaulting a police officer and assault causing injury. They will appear at the Bendigo Magistrates Court on May 2.

The 28-year-old driver has also been charged with drink-driving after returning a blood-alcohol reading of 0.92.

Bendigo police said the officer had been released from hospital with minor injuries and was on a rest day yesterday.